I decided that, now that this is finished, I should post in on FFN as well as AO3. I always forget to do that XD

TW: references to canon events like Maedhros' torture and death

Maedhros paused before the doors of Elrond's council. He could hear voices inside, speaking in low tones. The guards at the gates looked at Maedhros warily.

"Who are you?" One asked. Maedhros glanced back at his brothers.

"Aid." He said. "And messengers of the Valar. Let us pass." The guards stepped aside. They could not fail to read the power of the seven Sons of Fëanor. Maedhros strode forwards and bowed carefully to Elrond.

"Hail, my lord Elrond." He said. "I bring greetings from the Blessed Realm." Elrond stood, eyes sparkling.

"Hail, my lord." He responded politely, not sounding at all angry. "I did not look for you to come, but my heart is certainly glad at your arrival. How is it you have returned?" The words were formal, but he was smiling.

"The Valar have sent us back here." Maedhros explained. "We are to help you destroy Þauron's ring, however we can. If you do not wish to accept our aid, my lord, at least listen to our counsel."

"Do not call me that." Elrond said, frowning. "It is not fitting for a High King to speak so." He was addressing Maedhros like that? He'd given up that title centuries before Elrond was born. Surely he'd forfeited all right to that title after what he'd done.

"That is Maedhros." One of Elrond's folk whispered, recognizing his suddenly. "The kinslayer, the mad lord of Himring. How can Lord Elrond call him a king?"

"Maedhros was rightfully king." Amrod snapped.

"Amrod." Maedhros cautioned. "We are here to give counsel, not to fight."

"Maedhros and his brothers are my guests." Elrond said, as if he'd known they would be there. "Treat them as such." Despite Elrond's words, the Elves looked uneasy and whispered among themselves. Maedhros ignored them.

"My counsel is thus." He said, voice cutting through the whispers and rendering them silent. "Already you know your course. You must destroy the Ring in the fires of Orodruin."

"Yes." Elrond said. "We have decided that."

"Good." Maedhros said. "But you do not know this: you must send only a small group to destroy it."

"A small party stands no chance against Sauron." An Elf protested.

"Aye. We should send great warriors." An old Dwarf agreed.

"No." Maedhros said, shaking his head. "He expects that. You know his power, and you fear it. He cannot conceive that you would wish to destroy the Ring—he is not capable of that. Sending a large party would only draw his gaze. He expects us to use it against him. If he sees an army marching on Mordor, he will send out his forces against it and destroy them."

"How can you be so sure?" Someone challenged. Maedhros paused. How could he explain?

"I know him." He said, slowly. "When Þauron forces his mind upon yours, you can see his thought, if you are skilled enough." He shook his head. "He loves the Ring. It is more valuable to him than anything else, even his master. He believes everyone to think as he does. You cannot resist the Ring completely. None can. But there are those who will be able to resist for a time. That is who we must send."

"I cannot ask someone to do this." Elrond said. "None must lay this burden upon another."

"Why must we destroy it?" One of the Men said. "If it is so hopeless, why can we not use it? My people are suffering. This could be our salvation!"

"No!" Maedhros snarled, heart racing. The Ring whispered in Black Speech, coaxing and threatening in turn, weaving dark spells. "No." Maedhros said again, pushing the voice from his mind. "Even the purest of jewels can ensnare a mind, but the Ring was created for that purpose. Do you think you could resist it?"

"Do you think you can?" The Man challenged as the Ring murmured of jealousy and deceit. "Perhaps you just want it for yourself!"

"I know I could not resist it." Maedhros growled. "For I have held a Silmaril as it burned through my hand and I did not wish to let it go. I have felt the power of the Ring ever since I set foot on this side of the Sea. If I wanted it, you would be dead, the Ring would be mine, and these lands would burn."

"He is right." Olórin said. The Maia looked solemn. "The Ring must be destroyed."

"Very well." The Man relented.

"I will take the Ring, if you think it best." A young Hobbit said quietly. "I do not know the way, or what strength I have, but I would see it destroyed."

"So be it." Elrond sighed.

"I'm coming with him!" Another Hobbit burst through the gates.

"No, indeed. It is hardly possible to separate you." Elrond sighed, amused. "Even if he is invited to a secret council and you are not."

"We're coming too!" Two more young Hobbits burst in. Elrond looked shocked, but didn't disagree. A Númenórean man stood, pledging as well. He was followed by an Elf, a Dwarf, and the Man of Gondor who had argued for using the Ring.

"So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring." Elrond said. Maedhros leaned close to Elrond.

"My brothers and I will go with, if you wish." Perhaps they would draw Þauron's eye. But Maedhros and his brothers could cloak themselves well and the gains would far outweigh the risks.

"I do." Elrond murmured in reply. "Speak with me once the meeting is over."

"As you say."

The Council left, and Elrond's children gathered. Two were twins, boys who looked just like Elrond and Elros had. One was a girl, identical to both Elrond and Lúthien. The fourth was a man who had been at the Council. He resembled Elros closely; as Elros had been in Vairë's tapestries.

"These are my children." Elrond said. "Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen, and Aragorn."

"Elladan looks just like you did." Maedhros said. The twins glanced at each other, confused.

"And I don't?" Elrohir laughed.

"You look like Elros." Maglor replied.

"Who are you?" Elrohir asked, glancing at his father. "How do you know my father and Elros?"

"These are the sons of Fëanor." Elrond said.

"Your foster fathers?" Elladan asked, not appearing to have even thought of the mad, evil kinslayer part of their reputation.

"Indeed." Elrond said. "And their brothers, to whom I haven't been introduced. I could guess." He added, at Maedhros' look. "There were quite a few songs about them that Maglor told me."

"And perhaps I should just introduce us." Celegorm said quickly, before Curufin could jump in and say some poorly-timed joke. "I'm Celegorm. This is Caranthir, Curufin, Amrod, and Amras."

"I'm glad to finally meet you." Elrond said.

"I'm sorry our deaths inconvenienced you." Curufin drawled. "Oh wait, they actually didn't." He frowned. "I'm pretty sure you would've died if we'd still been alive and Oath-bound for the attack on Sirion." Caranthir elbowed him sharply, and Curufin grimaced.

"Maybe." Elrond said. "But I'm glad to meet you nonetheless."

"I thought you were supposed to be dead." Elrohir said, with as much tact as his father and uncle had ever possessed.

"We were." Curufin said unhelpfully.

"We were sent back to destroy Þauron." Maedhros said. "We were dead."

"Like Glorfindel." Elladan said. "Cool."

"Glorfindel is here?" Maglor asked, looking at Elrond.

"Yes." Elrond said. "Will that be a problem?"

"No…" Maglor said slowly, looking at Maedhros.

"He may be displeased." Maedhros said. "He is of the Gondolindrim, and may bear us ill-will. But I do not think he will act on it. He is a noble lord."

"I will speak with him about it." Elrond said. "We are allies here. We must not let ourselves be divided again."